Mechanical gas producer



May 24, 1932. TREAT 1,859,576

MECHANICAL GAS PRODUCER Filed Nov. 12. 1926 4 Sheets-5mm. 1

May 24, 1932.

F. H. TREAT MECHANICAL GAS PRODUCER Filed Nov. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q) INVENTOR May 24, 1932- F. H. TREAT MECHANICAL GAS PRODUCER Filed Nov. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 24, 1932. F, TRE 1,859,576

MECHANICAL GAS PRODUCER Filed Nov. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HIM! u INVENTOR A; M I 824.114

Patented May 24, 1932 cairn STATES PATENT orrice FRANCIS H. TREAT, OF BELLEV'UE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR .TO DUFF PATENTS COMPANY, INC.,

OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA MECHANICAL GAS PRODUCER Application filed November 12, 1926. SeriaI'No. 147,944.

This invention is for an improvement in mechanical gas producers and relates more particularly to agitating means for use in connection with mechanical producers for evening out the top of the fuel bed.

In mechanical gas producers, fuel is introduced into the producer through a top having specially constructed mechanism for introducing the coal without allowing for the escape of any appreciable amount of gas. It is customary to provide in connection with such fuel feeding means an agitator adapted to travel over the bed of fuel and even it out so that the surface of the bed will be substantially smooth and the bed will be of substantially uniform depth. In order to secure the most eflicient results, it is necessary that the depth of the bed be kept as nearly constant and uniform throughout as pos- 9 sible.

- According to the present invention it is proposed to provide an agitator which will travel around the fuel bed and as it travels, it will have an oscillating movement in a 3*? horizontal plane so that the part of the fuel bed traversed by it will be well raked and sn'ioothed down. Means is also provided whereby the movement of the agitator is correlated with the movement of the fuel feeding top so that only once in several revolutions of the top will the agitator be-exactly in phase with its former positionat a given point in the fuel bed. As the agitator oscillates back and forth across the fuel bed as it travels around the bed, the raking projections thereon Will rake in sinuous tracks. Since the sinuations of successive passes of the agitator around the bed do not coincide, the agitator will effectively stir up and level out the fuel bed. A the same speed of rotation for the fuel feeding top, a single agitator embodying my invention will give as much agitation as double agitators heretofore used, and in addition, it 1s possible to oper- 4 producer;

ate the fuelfeeding top having my agitator.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 represents a vertical section through a gas producer embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on a larger scale showing the gearing through which the several elements associated with the producer top are operated;

Fig.3 represents a vertical section through the agitator and that portion of the top in which the agitator is carried;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the external parts of the agitator and the frame in which it is carried, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4.

I In the drawings, 2 designates thebody of the gas producer which is preferably stationary and which has an apron 3 at the lower end extending into a revolving ash pan 4, this arrangement being shown and described indetail in my copending application Serial #147,945 filed November 12, 1926, Patent No. 1,826,156. At the top of the producer is a sloping top wall 5 having an annular flange 6 at the inner edge thereof, this flange surrounding a central opening in the top and serves to retain a bodyof cooling water in the top, which body of water also provides a water seal for the fuel feeding top 7 The top may also have a bracing angle 6 thereon. The producer is preferably enclosed in an outer shell of easing 8 which provides an air circulating space around the producer and by'means of which the air introduced into the producer becomessaturated with water vapor before entering the producer. This arrangementis disclosed in my copending application 1 Serial #753,433, filed December 2, 1924, Patent No. 1,801,398.

Located above the flange 6 is a ring 9, best shown in Fig. 2, which provides a bearing ring for a slip ring bearing member 10 on the rotatable top 7. Bearing ring 9 isprovided on its periphery with a rack 11,'this rack extending entirely around the ring. The slip ring lOis carried on a horizontal-plate 12. Depending from the plate isa verticalfiange 13. On the outside of the flange 13 is a skirt 14 that extends down around the flange 6 to provide the seal between the top and the water in the trough 6. The general water level for sealing the producer is designated by the broken line AA in Fig. 1. Secured to the lower edge of the flange 13 is a hori zontal plate 15 having an eccentric opening 16 therein around which is secured an upwardly extending flange 17, to the upper edge of which is secured a sleeve 18; The upper plate 12 has an opening thereinv over the opening in the lower plate 15 and surrounding this opening is a stepped ring 19. Fitted into the ring 19 is an upper end 20 of a rotatable body, or carrier 21. This upper end portion 20 is provided with an annular rack 22. The stepped ring 19 cooperates with the upper part 20 to rotatably support the body 21 and prevent the body 21 from dropping down as will be clearly seen from an inspection of Fig. 3. The intermediate portion of the carrier 21 extends down inside the sleeve 18 and at the lower end of the carrier 21 is an expanded portion 23 which provides a hearing surface for the lower end of the carrier, spaced apart bearing blocks 24 being provided inside the flange 17 I Depending on the ring portion 20 of the carrier 21 is a sealing apron 25. The lower end of the' carrier 21 is closed, and is provided with a downwardly projecting eccentric bearing 26 in which is a water circulating passage 27 which passage communicates'with the interior of the carrier 21. In the interior of the upper ring portion 20 of the carrier- 21 is an upper bearing 28 which is in line with the lower bearing 26. In the horizontal ledge 20 between'theintermediate portion 22 of the rotatable car'- rier 21 are holes 20 through which water may flow from theinterior of the carrier- 21 to the space around thesleeve'18 above the lower plate 15, the plate 15 forming a water ring 19.

holder for retaining a massofcooling water in the top of the producer. The overflow for this containeris provided by ports 29, best shown in Fig. 3. 'From the ports 29 the water flows into the annular trough 6. Passing through the bearings 26 and 28 is a vertical shaft 30 which is hollow and which has ahorizontal extension 31 at its lower end- This is the agitator shaft; and the horizontal arm provides the rake, the arm being preferably provided with downwardly pro- ]ecting raking extensions 32. Secured to the upper end of the shaft 30 is an arm 33. The freeend of the arm 33 is slidably received in a horizontalhole. or bearing. 34 in a guide blockhaving a verticalsleeve portion ii 35 slidable on a verticalpost 36fl The vertical post is received and held at its lower end in a socket'37' located at one'side of the By' reference to'Fig, 5 it will be seen that the'post 36 has a reducedupper end36 and 38 to hold the shaft 40 from lifting. The

intermediate portion of the shaft 40 is;

threaded. Integral with the guide block and the sleeve is another sleeve 41 which is interiorly threaded for cooperation with the threaded portion of the shaft 40. The lower end of the shaft 40 is slidably supported on a bracket element 42 projecting from one side of thesocket'37. From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that when the shaft40 is rotated by the application of a wrench or crank tothe squared upper end thereof that the nut 41 or threaded sleeve 41 will be correspondingly raised. or lowered. This will lift the sleeve 35 and the guide-block, thereby raising and lowering the shaft 30'toadjust the operating height of the agitator. Should it be desired to have the agitator float on the fuel bed, instead of being adjustably fixed with respect thereto, the pin 39 can be pulled out to permit the yoke 38 to lift, so that the screw shaft 40 would not be confined. V

Secured to the top plate 12 of the rotary top assembly is a casting 43 in which is mounted a worm wheel 44 carried on a horizontal shaft 45. The worm wheel 44 is rotated through a worm 46 on a horizontal shaft 47 which is at right angles to the shaft 45. At one end of the shaft 47 is a spur gear 48 for cooperation with the pinion of a driving motor, this driving motor being indi cated in dotted lines at 49 in Fig. 1 of the drawings;

On one end of the shaft is a pinion 50 which meshes with a bevel gear 51 on a vertical shaft 52, see Fig. 2, which shaft is also supported in bearings in the casting43. On the lower end of the vertical shaft 52 is 'a spur gear 53 which meshes with the annular rack 11 on the periphery of the ring 9. It will thus be seen that when the shaft 47 is driven,'the shaft 45 will be rotated and this in turn will rotate the pinion 53. The rotation of the pinion 5.3 on the stationary rack 11 causes the top structure to revolve.

Splined to the upper end of the shaft 52 is a spur gear 54. Gear 54 drives an'idler gear the shaft 58 is a water pipe 61 whose lower end terminates in a chamber 62. The pipe 61 is located at the central axis of the producer. Leading from the chamber 62 is a pipe 63 which is connected through a flexible hose 64 with the upper end of a pipe 65 that is connected through an elbow 66 with a vertical pipe 67 extending down the hollow shaft 30 of the agitator. At the lower end of the pipe 67 inside the arm 31 is a lateral pipe 68 having outlet jets 69 that discharge into the raking teeth 32, one jet discharging into each tooth or extension. 1

This arrangement provides for the introduction of the cooling fluid into the rotary top of the producer. The water flowing down the pipe 61 passes through the flexible hose 64 and down the pipe 67 where it is discharged into the raking end of the agitator. It circulates up the inside of the agitator and overflows through an outlet pipe 70 into the inside of the rotatable body 21. From the inside of the body 21 the water overflows through ports 2O into the main body of cooling water above the lower plate 15 and from there it is discharged through the ports 29 in the manner hereinbefore described.

The shaft 45 is connected through flexible couplings with the usual rotary pocketed drum 71. This pocketed drum is of well known construction and forms no part of the present invention. It is located in the fuel feeding chute 72 opening into the producer and its function is to introduce fuel into the producer without permitting of the escape of any appreciable amount of gas, as is well understood.

On the shaft 45 there is a pinion 73 which meshes with a bevel gear 74 on a short vertical shaft 75 mounted in a bearing 76 at one side of the ring 19. This shaft has a small spur gear 77 secured thereto which meshes with the teeth 22 on the outside of the ring portion 20 of the rotatable body 21.

It will thus be seen that the single operating motor driving the shaft 47 operates the shaft 45 and that the operation of the shaft 45 causes the fuel feeding top to rotate by reason of the rotation of the pinion 53 and causes the fuel feeding pan 60 to revolve at the same time. The rotation of this shaft also effects the operation of the pocketed drum 71 through which the fuel is fed into the producer and simultaneously rotates the body 21.

When the body 21 rotates, the bearings 27 and 28, which are eccentric with respect to the body 21 travel around in a circle. The agitator itself is held against rotation by reason of the arm 33 passing through the sleeve 34. The arm 33 permits the agitator to rock or oscillate back and forth with the rotation of the body 21, so that the rak'es thereon, instead of making an ordinary circular track through the fuel bed, make a sinuous or laterally undulating track about thepost36 and it is for this reason that its lower end is slidably supported on the bracket 42. The gear ratio between the driving pinion 53 and the gear 77 and gearing 22 is such that the carrier or body 21 will rotate three and one-half times with each complete revolution of the top. This means that ,in-succeeding revolutions of the top, the agitator will be out of phase with its position in the preceding revolution, and only in' every fourth revolution of the top will the agitator be in phase with a former given position. This insures effective smoothing and raking of the fuel bed.

The advantages of the invention reside in the provision of means whereby all of the various mechanisms are operated from a single driving unit and from the particular construction of the agitator and the carrier therefor whereby the agitator is carried around over the surface of the fuel bed with a continuously oscillating movement,the arm 33 on the upper end of the agitator being so arranged as to provide for vertical adjust, ment of the agitator and atthe same time prevent the raking extension 31 of the agitator from trailing through the fuel bed in line with the general direction of movement of the shaft 30. It will readily be seen that if the arm 33 were not provided that the raking extension 31 would tend to assume a position where it would encounter a minimum of resistance, and in. such position it pould not efliciently operate to distribute the uel.

A further advantage of the invention resides'in the provision of means forc'irculating cooling fluid through the agitator and through the body or carrier 21 in which the agitator is mounted, and subsequently discharging such' water into this mainbody of cooling water ordinarily provided in the top of a producer. This is of particular advantage where the heat absorbed by the cooling water is used to vaporize the water to saturate the air being introduced into the producer.

Another advantage of the invention resides in the provision of an agitator, which, as it is carried around the bed, has aback and forth motion substantially radially of the producer, and which may be adjusted vertically to operate in. a given position, or Iwhich may be arranged to float in the. fuel There is also an advantage in providing a;

horizontal radially movable agitator in a producer having short radial tuyeres 80,"i11

that it serves to pack'the fuel bed down and prevent the formation of voids between the tuyeres or dead ash zones above the tuyeres, inasmuch as the raking effect and the downwardly pressing agitator is transverse and also longitudinal of the tuyeres.

\Vhile I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied, and that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction of the producer within the spirit of my invention and under the contemplation of the following claims.

I claim 1. A gas producer having a body part and atop part, one of which is rotatable with respect to the other, a rotatable carrier mounted in the top, an agitator eccentrically mounted in the carrier, means for rotating the carrier in one direction only, and means coacting with the agitator for confining the same against complete rotation.

' 2. A gas producer having a body part and a top part, one of which is rotatable with respect to the other, a carrier eccentrically mounted in the top part, an agitator eccentrioally mounted in the carrier, means for rotating the carrier in one direction only, and means for confining the movement of the agitator against rotation.

3. A gas producer having a body part and a top part, one of which is rotatable with respect to the other, a carrier rotatably mounted in-the top eccentrically thereof, an agitator eccentrically supported by the carrier and relative to which the carrier may rotate, and means for rotating the carrier relatively to the top, and means for adjusting said agitator vertically in the carrier.

4. A gas producer having a body adapted to contain a fuel bed, a fuel charging top rotatably mounted on the body, a rotatable carrier eccentrically mounted in the top, an

agitator eccentrically supported in the carrier and with respect to which the carrier may rotate, means for rotating the carrier, means for limiting the rotative movement of the agitator to prevent its complete rotation with the carrier.

5. A gas producer comprising a body, a

rotatable fuel feeding top on the body, a

carrier element eccentrically mounted in the top, means for rotating the carrier element in the top and relatively thereto, an agitator eccentrically supported in the carrier element and with respect to which the carrier may rotate, said agitator having a lower end portion projecting into the producer, an arm at the upperend of the agitator, a bushing in which the arm is slidably received, and means for pivotally supporting the bushing.

' i 6. In a gas producer havinga body with radially ,disposedtuyeres in the lower part thereof whose length is materially less than the radius of the producer, a rotatable fuel feeding top for the producer, an agitator carried by the top having a substantially radial rake portion thereon, said rake being adapted to travel over the tuyeres, and means for imparting a substantially radial back and forth movement to the agitator so that it agitates the fuel bed transversely and longitudinally of the tuyeres.

7. In a gas producer having a body with radially disposed tuyeres in the lower part thereof whoselength is materially less than 8. A gas producer comprising a body, a I

fuel feeding top rotatably mounted on the body, a carrier eccentrically positioned in the top and rotatable therein, an agitator eccentrically positioned'in the carrier, means for moving the carrier relatively to the agitator, whereby the carrier imparts an eccentric motion to the agitator, means for restraining the agitator against substantial rotation about its own axis, and means for operating the top and the carrier whereby the agitator is carried around the producer with the rotation of the top and simultaneously given an eccentric motion by the rotation of the carrier. I

9. A gas producer comprising a body, a fuel feeding top rotatablysupported on the body, a rotatable carrier eoc'entrically'ino'unted in the top, an agitator eccentrically supported in the carrier and being revolvable tation about its own axis'and for imparting an eccentric motion thereto as the carrier rotates, gearing for rotating the top, gearing for rotating the carrier, and a common driving means for all of said gearing.

10. A gas producer comprising a body, a fuel feeding top rotatably supported on the body, an eccentric carrier mounted in the top for rotation relatively thereto in one direction only, an agitator eccentrically sup ported in the carrier, means for restraining it againstcomplete rotationin the carrier and for imparting an eccentric motion thereto, and gearin'g'for rotating the top and the carrier capable of producing a complete number of revolutions plus a fraction of a complete revolution in the carrier with each complete revolution of the top, whereby the agitator on each successive revolution of the top will be out of phase with its position on the preceding revolution.

11. A gas producer comprising a body, a rotatable fuel feeding top on the body,

a carrier element eccentrically mounted in the top, means for rotating the carrier element in the top and relatively thereto, an agitator eccentrically supported in the carrier element and with respect to which the carrier may rotate, said agitator having a lower end portion projectw ing into the producer, an arm at the upper end of the agitator, a bushing in which the arm is slidably received, means for pivotally supporting the bushing, and means for adjusting the bushing vertically.

12. In a gas producer, a producer body, a

rotatable carrier mounted in the top for rotation relatively to the top, an agitator eccentrically mounted in the carrier and about which the carrier is adapted to be rotated,

means for restraining the rotary movementof the agitator relative to the carrier, gearing through which the carrier is rotated, and gearing through which the top is rotated connected to the gearing for rotating the carrier whereby the various parts are operated in synchronism.

18. In a gas producer, a producer body, a top therefor, said body and top being relatively rotatable, an agitator carried in the top eccentrically thereof and having a rake thereon which is substantially radial to the producer, and means for moving the agitator bodily toward and away from the center of the top to vary the eccentricity thereof.

14. In a gas producer, a producer body, a

top therefor, said body and top being relatively rotatable, an agitator carried in the top eccentrically thereof and having a rake thereon which is substantially radial to the producer, means for moving the agitator bodily toward and away from the center of the top to vary the eccentricity thereof, and means for restraining the agitator against substantial rotation about its own axis.

15. In a gas producer, a producer body, a

fuel feeding top therefor, said body and top being relatively rotatable, an agitator carried in the top eccentrically thereof and having a rake thereon which is substantially radial to the producer, and means for moving the agitator bodily toward and away from the center of the top to vary the eccentricity thereof, said agitator being slidably mounted for vertical movement, the position of the agitator being determined by the height of the fuel bed. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 60 FRANCI$ H. TREAT 

